One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

The messaging app Telegram has released a statement that it has blocked 78 ISIS-related channels that the terrorist group used to spread propaganda and communicate with other members.

ISIS — aka the Islamic State — has been using the app as a means of distributing its propaganda material since October, when Telegram introduced a feature letting users broadcast messages to an unlimited number of subscribers.

"We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda," the statement read. "As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages."

Despite blocking the channels, many more are still in existence on the app. Many channels posted Telegram's statement, followed by links to other propaganda channels that are still active.

One ISIS-affiliated channel posted this message in response to Telegram shutting down ISIS accounts:

they started thier war on the #islamicStatebe very careful and from now on nothing is save to use they can give away our info so keep using VPN andbe carefull may Allah protect you

One major ISIS user on Telegram declared that "the war on Telegram has started," according to Charlie Winter, an expert on ISIS propaganda.

The app's creators, the Russian brothers who founded the social network VKontakte, have previously acknowledged that terrorists use the app and said that privacy takes precedent over preventing terrorism.

"Privacy is ultimately more important than our fear of bad things happening, like terrorism," Pavel Durov said in September at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, according to VentureBeat. "If you look at ISIS, yes, there's a war going on in the Middle East. Ultimately, ISIS will find a way to communicate with its cells, and if any means doesn't feel secure to them, they'll [find something else]. We shouldn't feel guilty about it. We're still doing the right thing, protecting our users' privacy."

It seems that stance has chanced in light of the Paris terrorist attacks.

We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda.

We are carefully reviewing all reports sent to us at abuse@telegram.org and are taking appropriate action to block such channels.

As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages.

We are also introducing an easier way for our users to report objectionable public content in the upcoming update of Telegram this week.

Telegram later released another statement that concluded:

Please note that this does not apply to local restrictions on freedom of speech. For example, if criticizing the government is illegal in a country, Telegram won't be a part of such politically motivated censorship. This goes against our founders' principles. While we do block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels, we will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions.

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

Pamela Engel

Terrorism,Islamic State,Telegram,Isis

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

2015-11-18T20:04:33+01:00

2015-11-18T19:59:49+01:00

2015-11-24T20:58:48+01:00

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The messaging app Telegram has released a statement that it has blocked 78 ISIS-related channels that the terrorist group used to spread propaganda and communicate with other members.
ISIS — aka the Islamic State — has been using the app as a means of distributing its propaganda material since October, when Telegram introduced a feature letting users broadcast messages to an unlimited number of subscribers.
"We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda," the statement read. "As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages."
Despite blocking the channels, many more are still in existence on the app. Many channels posted Telegram's statement, followed by links to other propaganda channels that are still active.
One ISIS-affiliated channel posted this message in response to Telegram shutting down ISIS accounts:
they started thier war on the #islamicStatebe very careful and from now on nothing is save to use they can give away our info so keep using VPN andbe carefull may Allah protect you
One major ISIS user on Telegram declared that "the war on Telegram has started," according to Charlie Winter, an expert on ISIS propaganda.
Important. Major #IS user on @Telegram: "the war on Telegram has started". #IS accounts suspended. BIG policy shift. pic.twitter.com/qFY0ldi2xU
— Charlie Winter (@charliewinter) November 18, 2015
The app's creators, the Russian brothers who founded the social network VKontakte, have previously acknowledged that terrorists use the app and said that privacy takes precedent over preventing terrorism.
"Privacy is ultimately more important than our fear of bad things happening, like terrorism," Pavel Durov said in September at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, according to VentureBeat. "If you look at ISIS, yes, there's a war going on in the Middle East. Ultimately, ISIS will find a way to communicate with its cells, and if any means doesn't feel secure to them, they'll [find something else]. We shouldn't feel guilty about it. We're still doing the right thing, protecting our users' privacy."
It seems that stance has chanced in light of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Eight terrorists took hostages, detonated suicide vests, and shot people in attacks across Paris last Friday night. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left 129 people dead and hundreds more injured.
Here's Telegram's full statement:
We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda.
We are carefully reviewing all reports sent to us at abuse@telegram.org and are taking appropriate action to block such channels.
As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages.
We are also introducing an easier way for our users to report objectionable public content in the upcoming update of Telegram this week.
Telegram later released another statement that concluded:
Please note that this does not apply to local restrictions on freedom of speech. For example, if criticizing the government is illegal in a country, Telegram won't be a part of such politically motivated censorship. This goes against our founders' principles. While we do block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels, we will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions.

international

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

Pamela Engel

Terrorism,Islamic State,Telegram,Isis

One app maker has shut down almost 80 channels used by ISIS to distribute propaganda

2015-11-18T20:04:33+01:00

2015-11-24T20:58:48+01:00

https://static1.businessinsider.de

500

250

BusinessInsiderDe

https://www.businessinsider.de/assets/images/logos/og-image-logo.png

The messaging app Telegram has released a statement that it has blocked 78 ISIS-related channels that the terrorist group used to spread propaganda and communicate with other members.
ISIS — aka the Islamic State — has been using the app as a means of distributing its propaganda material since October, when Telegram introduced a feature letting users broadcast messages to an unlimited number of subscribers.
"We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda," the statement read. "As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages."
Despite blocking the channels, many more are still in existence on the app. Many channels posted Telegram's statement, followed by links to other propaganda channels that are still active.
One ISIS-affiliated channel posted this message in response to Telegram shutting down ISIS accounts:
they started thier war on the #islamicStatebe very careful and from now on nothing is save to use they can give away our info so keep using VPN andbe carefull may Allah protect you
One major ISIS user on Telegram declared that "the war on Telegram has started," according to Charlie Winter, an expert on ISIS propaganda.
Important. Major #IS user on @Telegram: "the war on Telegram has started". #IS accounts suspended. BIG policy shift. pic.twitter.com/qFY0ldi2xU
— Charlie Winter (@charliewinter) November 18, 2015
The app's creators, the Russian brothers who founded the social network VKontakte, have previously acknowledged that terrorists use the app and said that privacy takes precedent over preventing terrorism.
"Privacy is ultimately more important than our fear of bad things happening, like terrorism," Pavel Durov said in September at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, according to VentureBeat. "If you look at ISIS, yes, there's a war going on in the Middle East. Ultimately, ISIS will find a way to communicate with its cells, and if any means doesn't feel secure to them, they'll [find something else]. We shouldn't feel guilty about it. We're still doing the right thing, protecting our users' privacy."
It seems that stance has chanced in light of the Paris terrorist attacks.
Eight terrorists took hostages, detonated suicide vests, and shot people in attacks across Paris last Friday night. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which left 129 people dead and hundreds more injured.
Here's Telegram's full statement:
We were disturbed to learn that Telegram's public channels were being used by ISIS to spread their propaganda.
We are carefully reviewing all reports sent to us at abuse@telegram.org and are taking appropriate action to block such channels.
As a result, this week alone we blocked 78 ISIS-related channels across 12 languages.
We are also introducing an easier way for our users to report objectionable public content in the upcoming update of Telegram this week.
Telegram later released another statement that concluded:
Please note that this does not apply to local restrictions on freedom of speech. For example, if criticizing the government is illegal in a country, Telegram won't be a part of such politically motivated censorship. This goes against our founders' principles. While we do block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels, we will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions.